The NoticeConnect integration in Estate-a-Base® just got better. Not only can you post a Notice to Creditors from within Estate-a-Base, now you and your clients will benefit from the many advantages of using the Combined Registry Search from within Estate-a-Base as well. This combined functionality searches over 200,000 Wills in the Canada Will Registry and also searches for unregistered Wills by sending a Knowledge of a Will Notice to NoticeConnect’s mailing list which includes law firms, law libraries, and other partners. If a Search Query matches with a registered will, the firm that registered the will is notified and given 30 days to contact you. Furthermore, a Search Certificate is emailed to you regardless of whether a matching Will is found, confirming that you took appropriate steps to look for a Will, reducing your liability.
The Combined Registry Search or publishing a Notice to Creditors provide many advantages to you and your clients:
Why search for a Will: Searching the Canada Will Registry is an important step when administering an estate to ensure that you have taken effective steps to find a Will or the most recent Will.
- Due diligence: Failing to properly look for a Will can result in liability. A Search Certificate from the Canada Will Registry serves as proof that you took effective steps to find all relevant documents.
Why post a Notice to Creditors: Reduce both legal liability and estate trustee liability from outstanding creditors. Publish legal notices at a fraction of the cost and to a wider geographical area compared to traditional newspaper ads. Further reduce your administrative risk profile as notices are sent directly to subscribing law offices and major credit institutions across Canada.
- Disbursable: Submitting a combined Registry Search or posting a Notice to Creditors costs $170.00 each. This cost can be disbursed to the estate.
- Time savings: Save valuable time and eliminate duplicate data entry by using the client information already entered into Estate-a-Base.
Note: To access the latest NoticeConnect integrations, Estate-a-Base must be Version 22.2A or higher.
- Pop Up Banner Tab B
When you access The Deceased topic (Tab B) in a testate record, a banner for NoticeConnect appears for a few seconds. You can either click Learn More to read about NoticeConnect or click No, thanks to close the banner. Click the icon that appears only in this topic to make the banner reappear.
To use the integration, NoticeConnect credentials are required. - Creating/Updating NoticeConnect Credentials
To get started, all you need are NoticeConnect credentials for the lawyer and law clerk working on the estate file. To create credentials, go to NoticeConnect.com.
If you already have NoticeConnect credentials, simply enter those in your staff profile on the NoticeConnect Login Info tab. If you have already entered your Notice Connect Credentials, you will be required to request an authentication code from NoticeConnect. You can do this from Tab A by clicking on(magnifying glass) beside the lawyer or law clerk. Select the name of the personnel with the NoticeConnect credentials and click on Request Code. You can also complete this step in Tab B by clicking on Search the Canada Will Registry using NoticeConnect® button or the Create A Notice to Creditors with NoticeConnect®.
The message shown below will be displayed; click the Law Office Personnel button.
Highlight the name of the personnel to update, click on the NoticeConnect Login Info tab, enter your email address, and click Request Code.
An email will be sent to you from NoticeConnect with your authentication code. This authentication code is only useable for 30 minutes. Copy the authentication code from the email.
Paste the code into the Authorization Code field in the Request Sent to NoticeConnect box. Click Proceed.
You will be presented with a Success screen.
You are now able to complete a combined search of the Canada Will Registry and Create a Notice to Creditors with NoticeConnect with a few simple clicks. - Creating a Search of the Canada Will Registry
Click on the Search the Canada Will Registry using NoticeConnect® button in Tab B.
a. Required Fields for Search the Canada Will Registry using NoticeConnect
The following information will be passed to NoticeConnect from the Estate-a-Base fields:
- First name of the deceased on Tab B
- Last name of the deceased on Tab B
- Date of death on Tab B
- Date of birth on Tab B
- Jurisdiction of last residence of deceased on Tab B
b. Missing Fields
Should any of the above information be missing from Tab B, you will be presented with a Missing Information box which will indicate which fields are missing. Click OK and proceed to the appropriate field to enter the information.
Once all the information has been entered, you will be able to proceed with the Combined Search of the Canada Will Register and posting a Knowledge of a Will notice by clicking on the Search the Canada Will Registry using NoticeConnect® button. The embedded window (see below) will appear showing all information passed from the associated Estate-a-Base field to the NoticeConnect field. At this point you are able to edit the data in the NoticeConnect fields.
Note: Data entered in the NoticeConnect embedded window will not pass back to the appropriate fields in Estate-a-Base. To keep the information accurate in both programs, it is recommended that you make any changes in the Estate-a-Base field and submit your search to NoticeConnect again.
c. Submit Search
When you are ready to submit your search, click on the Submit Search button. You will be presented with the Is all the information you entered correct? screen. This screen provides a warning to make sure all the information that you entered is correct. You will not be able to make changes after you submit the search. If you are required to make changes before the search, click on the Continue Editing button where you will be taken back to the previous screen. If you are happy with the information you have entered, click the Confirm Submit button. When you click the Confirm Submit button, you are also agreeing to NoticeConnect’s Terms of Service.
d. Payment Method
After you have clicked Confirm Submit, you will be presented with the NoticeConnect Payment Method page where you can pay by cheque or credit card. After you choose your payment method, click Complete Your Purchase.
Once you have completed your purchase you will be presented with the screen below indicating that Your Search was submitted successfully and you will receive a receipt by email from NoticeConnect.
e. Search Certificate
You will also receive a Search Certificate from NoticeConnect by email. Retain this receipt in your file as proof that you have taken the necessary steps to locate a Will.
Note: If a Search Query finds a firm with a matching Will, the representatives have 30 days to contact you.
f. View Knowledge of a Will Notice
Your Search of the Canada Will Registry and search for unregistered Wills by posting a Knowledge of a Will notice have now been completed. You can view the Knowledge of a Will Notice at any time by clicking on the View Knowledge of a Will Notice button on Tab B. - Create A Notice to Creditors
To create a Notice to Creditors, simply click the Create A Notice to Creditors with NoticeConnect® button on Tab B.
All data will pass from Estate-a-Base to NoticeConnect.
a. Mandatory Fields for Notice to Creditors
The following fields in Tabs B and D must be completed to post a Notice to Creditors:
- Name of Deceased on Tab B
- Date of Death on Tab B
- Jurisdiction on Tab B
- Date by Which Creditors must Bring their Claims on Tab B
- In the Interested Parties topic (Tab D), add an Estate Trustee and include the address, jurisdiction, telephone, email address and Is Contact? details for this party.
b. Missing Data
Should any of the above information be missing from Tab B, you will be presented with a Missing information window which will indicate which fields are missing. Click OK and proceed to the appropriate fields to enter the information.
Once you have clicked on the Create A Notice to Creditors with NoticeConnect® button you will be presented with the following confirmation screen. You are able to edit the notice from this screen or Continue to Payment if you are satisfied with the data.
Note: Any changes made to fields in the NoticeConnect window will not appear in the Estate-a-Base record.
c. Continue to payment
You will have the option of adding a commissioned affidavit of publication for an extra $40 before proceeding to checkout. If you select this option, the affidavit will mailed out by NoticeConnect within 10 business days of your order. Alternatively, you can skip this option and go to checkout.
No matter which option you choose, click on the Continue to Payment to proceed.
d. Checkout and Payment Method
In the Checkout screen, you will see the charge for the notice and affidavit of publication (if requested). You will also have the option to pay by credit card or by cheque.
If you choose to pay by credit card, you can either use one saved previously or use a different credit card.
If you choose to pay by cheque, your notice will be posted when the payment clears.
e. Complete your purchase
Once you choose the payment method, click Complete your purchase. A Thank you message appears in the NoticeConnect window. The message varies slightly depending on whether you paid by cheque or credit card.
Credit Card Thank You Message
Cheque Thank You Message
NoticeConnect will email a receipt to you (if you paid by credit card) or an invoice (if you paid by cheque). The receipt includes a link to the notice.
f. View your Notice to Creditors
You can view your notice any time by clicking on View a Notice to Creditors with NoticeConnect® on Tab B.
Once the notices are posted (which is immediate for credit card payments), you will be able to see them on the main NoticeConnect web page in the RECENT NOTICES section.